Avram Says ‘It’s Not Me’

“Definitely not. I am not the German promoter referred to in this story!” Marcel Avram said in reference to a piece in the U.K.’s Sunday Times that said one of the local promoters was claiming Michael Jackson was appearing at his dad’s birthday party.

“This must be someone working with MJ’s father on other businesses,” Avram told Pollstar.

Although the Times piece said the unnamed promoter had since “withdrawn the claim,” it would have been something of a surprise if it had been Avram.

A couple of weeks ago, he told Pollstar he’s starting another legal battle with the beleaguered former megastar, although so far he’s not said why.

The last legal action between the two was in 2003 and ended with Avram being awarded US$5.5 million plus costs over Jackson’s failure to fulfill two millennium eve shows.

Birthday party or not, the main thrust of the Times article was centred on Jackson’s lawyers efforts to retrieve his passport, which police have held since they raided his home north of Los Angeles in November 2003.

Reports have suggested that the 46-year-old pop star, cleared of child molestation charges June 13th after a lengthy trial, may fly to Europe within a couple of weeks. He was said to be considering the possibility of a holiday in Switzerland at the Gstaad home of Elizabeth Taylor.

Financial advisers are also said to be waiting for approval to put his 3,000-acre ranch on the market for up to £40 million (US$72.8 million) as part of a package to help the singer pay off debts estimated at £200 million ($364.2 million).

— John Gammon